It is flat out unlawful and wrongTo say that churches do not belongIn the court room or the public squareAs it is a freedom they also share

When it comes to families and moral valuesWho better to help us strengthen statuesTo help unite us as one under GodPreserved as a nation with freedoms for all

Let us stand firm to the standard old traditionOf marriage as it’s been made legal by definitionLet the word remain as it has for thousands of yearsAnd let this message open up those with opposing ears

If those that are not one woman, one manWould like a union- let it be just thatCall it another name-the choice to be theirsLet us move on to bigger and humbling cares

Let us consider the sanctity of lifeAnd the responsiblity of husband and wifeLet us strengthen these homes for the children they bareAnd offer our prayers, support, and kind care

Too, let us find those who would seek an abortionAnd offer them hope, or at least a small portionLet us open their eyes unto the best optionThe beauty of life, family, and adoption

Let us match up the unborn ever voicelessWith couples who are mourning they are childlessLet us think long of the generations to comeAnd what our nation, united, can then become

“This isn’t about denying anyone rights. It’s about changing the definition of a word that carries significant doctrinal and historical significance for many people of faith. I’m all for allowing ALL people regardless of the sexual orientation the same rights as a married couple when it comes to taxation, visiting rights, inheritance law, etc. However, I stand firm on my position that the word Marriage remain the same as it has for thousands of years.Posted by: bjsworld | February 10, 2011 7:44 PM “

“Churches of all denominations have every right to speak out on issues that are central to their beliefs without jeopardizing their tax status. That has always been true whether the issue was slavery, civil rights, gambling, temperence, war and peace or any number of other “political” issues that touch upon a communities deeply held beliefs.Furthermore, unlike other tax-exempt organizations the tax exempt status of churches in not only derived from the internal revenue code. It is inherent in the constitutional protection of religious belief. As the Supreme Court has stated in another context, “the power to tax is the power to destroy.” Therefore churches also derive their tax exempt status from the Constitution itself.Posted by: Rom08 | February 10, 2011 4:42 PM”

We join together and affirmOur commitment ever firmThat marriage is a unionOf one man and one woman

NaturallyThe familyIs fundamentallyGood for society

“Marriage is the permanent and faithful union of one man and one woman. As such, marriage is the natural basis of the family. Marriage is an institution fundamental to the well-being of all of society, not just religious communities.”

“As religious leaders across different faith communities, we join together and affirm our shared commitment to promote and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

The release of this letter happened the same morning that oral arguments on the Proposition 8 case began. In August, Judge Vaughn Walker had ruled California’s Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, based in part on the claim that defining marriage as between a man and a woman lacked any rational basis, and instead reflected nothing but religion-based hostility to homosexual persons. This ruling has been appealed and its hearing is scheduled for today, December 6.

“Today is the moment to stand for marriage and its unchangeable meaning. We hope this letter will encourage just that,” Archbishop Dolan said.

“The Protection of Marriage: A Shared Commitment” is being circulated nationwide

Americans are tolerantGenerous and kindWe oppose bigotry and disparagementAnd same-sex marriage, you will find

For 3,000 years unopposedThe world’s known traditional marriage as an institutionFor the raising of children first and foremost And we ought to state so in our constitution

thoughts from reading the Mitt Romney Central site

“Like the vast majority of Americans, I’ve opposed same-sex marriage, but I’ve also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference. Americans are a tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement. But the debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law.” — Mitt Romney 12/14/06 National Review Online

Americans are tolerantGenerous and kindWe oppose bigotry and disparagementAnd same-sex marriage, you will find

For 3,000 years unopposedWe’ve had traditional marriage as an institutionFor the raising of children first and foremost And we ought to state so in our constitution

click on this post’s title and go directly to Mitt Romney Central

“Like the vast majority of Americans, I’ve opposed same-sex marriage, but I’ve also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference. Americans are a tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement. But the debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law.” — Mitt Romney 12/14/06 National Review Online